Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-07-25
HISTORY OF THE CURVE.
Rise and Growth:of the pitchers Ee-
centric Eriend---SOmething OF In
terest to Base Ball Experts.

Rise and Growth:ef the pitchers Ec-
centric Friend---sOmething of In
terest to Base Ball Experts.
Anything pertaining to the great Amer
lean game of base ball is always OF interest
especially to those who indulge in the
sport, either as amateurs or in profess
sional way. The big man in game is the
pitcher and upon him depends more than
upon any other member of nine. the
success of the game. To be possessed OF
the art of curving is the pitchers princi-
pal advantage.
1T was by slow stages that the present
high standing of the pitchers art was at
tanned" said gentleman well versed
in the base ball art. Arthur Cummings, |
q Brooklyn youth, was the first
10 bring into use the out curve,
He was known as the boy wonder, |
way back in 80. with the Stars
of Brooklyn. 81 have heard him tell
how he first discovered the curve, says a
writer. He was pitching against picked
nine one day and noticed the ball curv-
ing. He had 10 difficulty in striking the
batsmen out, and went home that night
and tried to study out the phenomenon.
The next day he invited some gentlemen
friends out to see him work. They
laughed at him, and when he tried to
convince them that he could accomplish
what he claimed he failed, as no doubt in
his anxiety be sent the ball too fast, and
very little curve can be got on speedy
pitched ball. He was not discouraged,
however, but went out with his catcher
the next day, and learned that the curve
came from certain twish he gave his
wrist He worked hard until he got con-
troll of the new move, and then aston
ished the scientific world. Cum
mings was of slight build, his
pitching was very graceful, and
his curve was of the sailing kind. much
like Carruihers' of the st. Louis Browns.
In 1872 Avery, the famous Yale pitcher,
discovered the in shoot. | don't think
he could curve q ball; at least | never
saw him do it, and hit against his pitch
Ing several times. His effectiveness was
handicapped by the inability of his catch
ers to hold him, as without doubt the
iu-shoot' is the most difficult ball to
handle, for in those days the catchers
were not protected with gloves or masks.
Fred Nichols, better known IS Tricky
Nick, was the first to make good use of
the drop ball He was great puzzle to
the heavy hitters OF rs 6. At Bridge
port and New Haven, Conn, Nichols got
a great drop on tine ball, when pitchers
had to keep their hands below the belt,
which would puzzle any of our twirlers
of the present day to accomplish. Math>
tlews was undoubtedly the first pitcher
to work. the raise ball, as far back rs SO.
| never saw him pitch an out curve until
IS, and faced his pitching for several
years before that. In 1878, Matthews
WAS With the Worcesters and pitched
against the Bostons, defeating them. He
had changed his style altogether from
previous years, and adopted one-srn
Days style-that is, making double
motion by drawing back before deliver
ing ball With his headwOrk and tbs
addition of the curve, he jumped int
the front ranks once more.
The next ball that seemed to bottle
the batters was introduced by Nc
Cormick, of the Stars, of syria
cuse. The young pitcher had Mix
Dorgan, now of the New 1orks, TO
catcher. They shut out about all tn
crack clubs of the country that paid then
visit The ball he deceived the bats
men with was raise curve, now used b
Radbourn, of the Bostons. He gave hi
field easy chances; the outfield had mos
Of the work to do off his pitching.
never saw him pitch ball below man
belt. He had perfect control of the bal
and cool head. The curve dror wa
first worked by the only Nolan, a
Columbus, Ohio, 1876. For several sea
sons he has fooled the best tatsmen. A
these different curves, raises, shoots an
drops were discovered by different PEG
pie. 1t is now no unusual thing TO fin
pitcher with all these points, and man
more wrinkles that they keep workln
up. Change of pace was most beautiful
" illustrated by Al Spaulding in the oil
Boston championship. Tim Kecfe, G
the New Yorks, is now the most success
full in that line, while Clarkson, of tn
ChicagOs, is also working the change 0
pace to good advantage. Will Whit
and John Ward were about the first t.
work the sharp curve and in shoot' a
far back as '7S. One of the creates
pitchers, if not the greatest, that eve
twirled bail was Charley Sweeney. wh
was with the Providence club in '83'4
He was the first and only man that eve
saw who could curve an out ball to
left-hand batsman. Several of Il
pitchers can get shoot. but bis was
clean curve. He has the unequaied rel
ord. up to the present day, of ninelct
strike outs in one game.
The Mystery solved.